Build Your Business, and Keep More of Your Money

Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors

4 Steps To Effective Multitasking

In today’s fast-paced business world, here are some tips to help you to be more effective at multitasking.

Over the past 10 years or so businesses have become leaner by reducing employee numbers, focusing on efficiency and increasing the demands on their staff. An increased workload forces us to multitask, which may be effective for a short period of time, but over the long term, can cause stress.

Multitasking is not about “piling on the work” to the point of exhaustion. It’s about training the brain to channel energy in an efficient and effective manner so you can accomplish more in less time. One of the keys to learning how to multitask effectively is actually to slow down, in order to accomplish more.

Set Priorities

Try to think of your brain as a computer. If you are working within multiple programs and have numerous windows open so you can quickly jump from program to program, you may find that your computer crashes a lot, due to the strain. The same thing happens in your brain. When you’re performing multiple tasks that require your undivided attention, your brain gets overloaded, as it can only process information from one channel at a time. Therefore, do not multitask if the assignment requires your full attention.

Useful tools

Make lists and write things down. You can’t remember everything so having a central to-do list is helpful. If you have a list of items you need to refer to often (such as pricing schedules or keyboard shortcuts) position this next to your phone or computer for quick access. Diarise some “management time” in your calendar each day – this might be a 45-minute slot where you have no meetings and can take stock, look at your to-do list and work through anything that needs your immediate attention.

Shift multitasking to single tasking

Your brain cannot multi-task all the time. So, occasionally, stop multitasking and allow yourself to do just one thing for fifteen to twenty minutes. At the end of this “rest period”, you’ll feel refreshed, alert, and ready to tackle more tasks – and you’ll do so with fewer mistakes.

Take regular breaks

Make the most of your breaks – avoid working through lunch and make sure to take a short break in the morning and afternoon. Use your break to walk around the building, sit outside, or do whatever you like for a few minutes to clear your head and give your brain a rest. Taking this time out during the day can actually make you more productive.

In accordance with government advice regarding the Covid-19 situation, to maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and clients, we have introduced home-working for most of the team for the foreseeable future. There is currently a small team working in the office.

Our business will continue as usual as far as possible despite these developments. Team members will have all the necessary technology to facilitate this temporary arrangement, meaning that they are able to work with you and continue to deliver our services to you.

At present we will still be able send documents in the post to you and will provide further updates should this position change. Client meetings will be held by telephone or video conferencing. The telephone lines are open as usual and emails will continue to be answered as normal.

We have arranged for an area for clients to deliver and collect accounting records and other such large volume paperwork, in a similar style to supermarkets to ensure safe transfer.

In order to keep clients fully informed of the latest developments and news being released by the government, we will be issuing weekly newsletters and also presenting webinars and Zoom meetings as necessary. If you are not already registered to receive our newsletters, please click here.